What is Captain America: Civil War about?
Captain America: Civil War is a 2016 superhero film directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and produced by Marvel Studios. It is the 13th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the third film in the Captain America franchise. But what is this movie all about?
The Background
The film takes place after the events of the previous Avengers installment, where the team had saved the world from an alien invasion. However, the battle has left $18 billion worth of damage and destruction to the major cities around the world.
The Problem
During a mission in Lagos, Nigeria, Wandavision (Wanda Maximoff and Vision’s relationship) comes under public scrutiny due to the incident in the previous film where they accidentally destroy a number of civilians, leading to a public backlash against superhero activities. The Secretary of State Thaddeus "Boss" Ross, the father of Captain America’s fellow Avenger, James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Iron Patriot), pushes for stricter regulations on superhero activities through the Accord Act, which requires the formation of an International authority to regulate and dictate the actions of the world’s superheroes.
Split in the Avengers
Steve Rogers (Captain America), who believes in the autonomy of the Avengers, doesn’t agree with the plans of the Accords Act, while Tony Stark (Iron Man), who favors the regulations, thinks they are necessary for the future of the team. As a result, the Avengers become divided: Team Cap with Steve Rogers and Team Iron Man with Tony Stark. Other loyal members who join teams include:
• Ava Starr (Nebula’s sister)
Key Moments
After the conflict and division arise, Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow), Clint Barton (Hawkeye), and Baron Helmut Zemo infiltrate the heavily guarded database of the Joint Counterterrorism Center. Zemo, seeking revenge for a past tragedy, discovers Hydra’s plan to trigger a civil war within S.H.I.E.L.D., create new Avengers who would act as Hydra operatives, allowing them to secretly manipulate superheroes from within, and prevent the formation of the authority.
Turning Point
During a heated battle against the Avengers in Leipzig Airport, the airport is destroyed, along with the aircraft and, unfortunately, several lives of innocent people are lost; Antony Stark / Iron Man injures, and then attempts to save, Wanda Maximoff, which puts the Team Iron Man vs. Captain America into even more motion**.
Conclusive Moments
At the war’s conclusion, Captain America surrenders, agreeing to have himself arrested as he goes against the accords agreement. T’Challa (Black Panther’s) intervention brings a measure of balance, but without the agreement, and even though there may be individual heroes still involved in espionage, there can be neither a formal unity nor further battles within their ranks once more.
Impact & Legacy
Captain America: Civil War leaves a lasting mark on both the MCU and the superheroes’ history in the fight against Hydra’s attempt to trigger the civil war and destroy the superheroes’ unity by exploiting conflicts and personal disagreements. Since the release, both the franchise’s success & the division have had important implications in the plot of subsequent MCU films.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Black Widow, Spider-Man: Far From Home have significant connections to Civil War movie.
Summary
What is Captain America: Civil War about?: It’s an action, adventure, drama film primarily focused on a battle which takes place when the characters are faced with a huge moral dilemma that threatens the very unity of superheroes and leaves the remaining Avengers divided by the agreement.
